Surgical glove package



Oct. 22, 1963 E. A. ADELMAN 3107.786

SURGICAL GLOVE PACKAGE Filed Feb. 1, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Eolza/Id olzel/mwn/ B W Wa? W ATTORNEYS Oct. 22; 1963 E. A. ADELMAN sURGIcAL GLovE PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1. 1961 7: /f/ INVENTOI Edvwrd ddm 8 Fly 9 *W M* Ja ATToRNgYs United States Patent* O Ohio Filed Feb. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 86,375 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-632) This invention relates :to a package for surgical latex gloves and more particularly it pertains to a package in which the gloves may be retained for autoclaving and subsequently maintained in a sterile condition until use.

Inasmuch as sanitary standards prevent the use of gloves which have become unsterile due to contact with persons or objects, -there is a problem inherent in the handling of surgical glove packages during and after sterilization. Most prior surgical glove packages have been inadequate because they Were not conducive to adherence to sanitary standards when opening the package for use' Either the package was di'icult to open and therefore Was subject to contamination as a result of awkward handling; or the package was composed of a wrapper of insufiicient size to prevent contamination under normal handling conditions. Where the package wrapper does not have a large enough surface area when opened, it is not convenient for 'an assistant to hold the glove to prevent contact with non-sterile objects preliminary to being put on.

The device of the present invention provides a surgical glove package in which the glove is contained within an inner wrapper which in turn is contained within an outer wrapper. Both wrappers are folded along readily discernible fold lines. In addition, both wrappers have large surfaces which are conducive to non-contamination because the package can be placed upon a non-sterile table surface and as it is opened by unfolding, the outer wrapper overlies a suificiently large area to assure a completely sterile marginal area around the inner wrapper of the package.

By providing an inner wrapper, contamination of the gloves is further avoided by persons opening the package due to inadvertences and human error. After the outer wrapper is fully opened, the inner wrapper may be thereafter opened -with assurance that the area surrounding it is completely sterile.

Moreover, the surgical glove package of the present invention includes inner and outer wrappers which are composed of a steam pervious material, such as paper, in which the gloves are disposed in such a manner that the package is preferably placed on edge in an autoclave to permit steam to pass upwardly between oppositely disposed gloves.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved package for surgical latex gloves adapted to receive and maintain the gloves in the desired position for ready use when the package is opened.

It is another object of this invention -to provide a package for surgical latex gloves in which the gloves .may be maintained, autoclaved, and subsequently retained in sterile condition until opened for use.

I-t is another object of this invention to provide a package for surgical gloves, which package includes inner and outer wrappers to facilitate the sterile handling of the gloves near non-sterile objects when the package is opened.

It is another object of this invention to provide a readily openable package for surgical gloves which permits a minimum of handling by an vinner wrapper after an outer wrapper is opened.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved package for surgical latex gloves which is economical to manufacture and is conducive to lCe a maximum of sterile conditions during opening of the package.

These and other objects and advantages appa'rent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claim may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difiicuLties overcome by the discoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, elements, combinations, and subcombinations which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in 'the following general statement, preferred embodiments Vof which-illustrative of the best modes in 'which applicant has contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description and shown in the dnawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claim forming part hereof.

The improved package for surgical gloves of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including an inner rectangular wrapper and an outer reetangular wrapper, the inner wrapper being substantially longer than it is Wide and being divided by three spaced transverse fold lines into four panels including a pair of inner adjacent panels and fitwo end panels, the outer wrapper being larger than the inner wrapper 'and being divided into three adjacent panels by fold lines extending between adjacent sides of `-the wrappers, the four panels of the inner wrapper and the three panels of the outer wrapper being of substantially equal size, the panels of the inner wrapper When folded being aligned with the panels of the outer wrapper when folded, and the outer wrapper being folded along its fold lines around and en'closing all panel edges and surfaces of lthe inner folded wrapper when the package is completely closed.

In the drawings in which the invention is shown by way of example:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a completely open package of surgical gloves with inner and outer wrappers superimposed and with a pair of rubber gloves in place on the inner wrapper;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the position of the gloves within the inner wrapper after the first folding operation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the gloves within the inner wrapper after the second folding operation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the package showing the first fold of the outer wrapper;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing subsequent folds of the outer wrapper;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the folded package subsequent :to that shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the completely closed package;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of 'another embodimen-t of the package as shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a perspeotive view of another embodiment of 'the inner package as folded in FIG. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 7, a closed package of surgical gloves is generally indicated at 1. 'Ihe same package 1 is 'also shown in FIG. 1 in the open position with a pair of gloves 2 and 3 in place. The package 1 includes an inner wrapper or folder 4 and an outer wrapper or folder 5. 'Ihe Wrappers 4 and 5 are preferably 'composed of a material which is pervious to steam in order to permit the gloves to be sterilized in the package by steam, preferably in an autoclave, in a conventional manner.

For that purpose the material of the folders 4 and 5 should have the characteristics of stiifness 'and strength to permit 'handling 'after sterilizing without te-aring the pack- 'age open. Accordingly, the wrappers 4 and 5 may be composed of paper or other similar material.

The inner wrapper 4 is an elongated, prefenably rectangular sheet having fold lines 6, '7, and '8 which extend transversely across the Sheet, dividing the sheet into four panels `9, 1h, y11, and 12 of substantia'lly equal size. The panels 9-12 include the two 'adjacen't panels 16 and 11, on each of which a single glove 2 or 3 is placed. Thus each panel 10 and 11 is of more lthan adequate size to 'accommodate a glove 2 or 3 and to maintain each glove in a normal unfolded position.

Similarly, as shown in PIG. 3, the outer wrapper is a Sheet member 'which is preferably rectangul-ar in Shape and whio'h is divided 'by fold lines 13, 14, 15, and 16 extending diagonal to the sides of the wrapper 5. The fold lines 17, 18, 19, ``and 26 extend perpendicular to the lines 13-16 and combine With the lines 13-16 and 17-20 to provide panels 21, 22, 23, 25, and 26. The panels 21, 22, and 23 are rectangul'ar and lsubstantially equal in size to the panels 9-12 of the inner wrapper lt. The panel 22 is preferably centrally disposed between oppos-ite pairs of corners of the wrapper 5 with panels 21 and 23 on opposite lon'gitudinal sides. The several rfold lines also provide corner fiaps 27, 28, 29, 'and 30 which are triangular in configuration.

In PIG. 1 each 'glove Z and 3 i's placed upon the open inner wrapper 4, as shown, with the wrist pontion turned back telescopically over the palm portion. The gloves 2 and 3 -are disposed with the palm portions up with the thumbs upright and with the fingers extending in one direction and in the center of the panele 1d and 11 in -correot right and left-hand positions. In those positions the gloves 'are properly disposed for the user With a minimum of fumbling and turning. With the cuff or wrist portion prelirninarily 'turned back, the user need not perform that operation before donning the gloves. Moreover, in those positions the gloves are properly disposed to permit complete penetnation by steam during 'the sterilization treatment.

After the 'glovcs 2 and 3 are placed upon 'the panels 1h and 11 of the inne-r wrapper 4-, the outer panels 9 and 12 lare folded along the `fold lines 6 'and 8 over the gloves to the positions shown in PIG. 2. Thereafter, a package 31 of powder, 'for the userls hands before putting on the gloves, is placed upon the panel 9 and the portion of the wrapper 4 including the glove 3 is folded along the foid line 7 onto 'the portion of the wr'apper containing the glove 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Both gloves 2 and 3 are then centrally dsposed on the center panel 22 of the outer wnapper 5.

The outer wrapper 5 is then folded on the crease line 15 with the panel 23 ovcrlaying the panel 22 and with the flap 28 folded on the fold line 16 and overlaying the panel 23 on the side opposite that of the panel 22. Thereafter the pane'ls 25 'and 26 'are folded along the respective told lines 1'8 and 1:9 over the panel 23 'and ilap 28 to the position shown in FIG. 5. -At the same time, the -fiaps 29 and 30, being folded on the :fold lines 17 and 20, are preferably disposed upwardly and at an angle to the panels 25 and 26, as shown. With the fiaps 29 'and 39 turned upw'ardly as shown, they facilitate opening of the package 1 when the `gloves are unwrapped.

Thereaffter 'the package is folded along the line 14 from the position of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 6 with the flap 27 extending from the folded package as shown. The las-t fold includes folding of the flap 27 along the line 13 to the position shown in FIG. 7, in which position a pressure Sensitive tape 32 is applied to hold the ilap 27 in place. The tape 32 includes ordinarily invisibie marks which become visible upon exposure of the package to the heat or other conditions of sterilization, such as by steam. At the same time, the pressure Sensitive tape 32 serves as a sealing means for holding the flap 27 in place on the panel 22 and may be rernoVed when the package is opened for use.

Another enrbodiment of the package is shown in FIG. 8 where a package 1a is folded to the intermediate posi- 4. tion similar to that of PIG. 5. The package 1a, howevcr, difers from that of 1 in F'IG. 5 in that the flaps 29 and 30 are folded one over the other rather than as shown in FIG. 5.

Another emhodiment is :also shown in FG. 9 for the inner -wrapper generally indicated at 4a. The flaps 9a and 12a resemble fiaps 9 and v12 in FIG. 2 except that the abutting edges thereof are provided with additional upturned fiap portions 9b and 12h, respectively, to facilitate opening of the inner wrapper similar yto the positions of the flaps 29 and 3h in FIG. 5.

The package 1 rn'ay be provided with the gloves enclosed either at the .time of original packaging of the gloves or prior to sterilization thereof. Where the gloves are of the type for tre-use, a new package 1 is provided each time the -gloves 'are sterilized. I-lowever, where the gloves are of the disposable type and are disposed of after one use, the package is provided only at the point of original sale.

rFhe device of 'the present invention provides a package having sep-arate inner and outer |wr'appers which greatly increase the maintenance of sterile characteristics of the gloves between the sterilization process and the actual donning of the gloves by .the user.

The particular manner :in which the inner and outer wrappers are disposed with respect to each other, as well as the manner in which the gloves are placed in the wrapper not only enables one who is unwrapping the package 'to do so with a maximum of protection of the sterile characteristics, but also provides sufiicient area around the gloves themselves when the package is opened to prevent non-sterile objects from coming into contact therewith. Unlike prior packages for surgical gloves, the package of the instant invention is not only easily opened but provides suficient wrapper surface to perrnit handling of lthe gloves, if necessary, in the absence of a fiat surface on which to place the open package, such as a table. Under such conditions the inner and outer wrappers may be separated while holding the sterile gloves within the inner wr'apper, such as by an assistan-t holding the inner wrapper open with the 'gloves in place and in easy reach for the user.

In .the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnccessary limitations have been implied therefrom as such words 'are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustnated and described herein is by way of example and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the ex'act construction shown.

Havinzg now ."desor'ibed the inve'ntion, construction, operation :and use of ya preferred embodiment lthereof and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new 'and useful surgical glove package and reasonable mechanical equivalents 'thereof obvious ,to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claini.

TWhat is clairned is:

A package for containing surgical gloves during and after sterilization including an inner wrapper, au outer wrapper, and a pair of surgical gloves; the inner wrappcr comprisng a rectangular sheet of steam-pervious paper having free side and end edges and provided with a. central and two intermediate substantially equally spaced fold lines parallel with the end edges and perpendicular to said side edges, the fold lines dividing said inner wrapper into a pair of adjacent central panels and two outer panels; the inner Wrapper receiving said pair of gloves to be contained by surface engagement only of one central panel with one of said gloves and by surface engagement only of one outer panel with said one glove and by similar surface engagement'only of the other central and outer panels With the other of said gloves upon folding the outer panels on the intermediate fold lines to positions superiniposed upon the central panels and by further folding on the central panel with its superimposed panel; the outer Wrapper being a rectangular sheet of steampervious paper having an opposite pair of free side edges and an opposite pair of free end edges and being provided With two central and two intermediate substantially equally spaced diagonal fold lines diagonal to and extending between one free side edge and an adjacent free end edge, said diagonal fold lines dividing the outer panel into a central rectangular panel and two outer panels, the outer Wrapper also having a pair of cross fold lines extending between the other adjacent pairs of side and end edges and intersecting said side and end edges at points of intersection with the diagonal fold lines and being perpendicular to said central and intermediate diagonal fold lines; the panels of both wrappers being of substantially equal size; each outer panel of the inner Wrapper having an outturned flap divided by a fold line from the panel and turned out on the side of the panel References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STAT ES PATENTS Vogt May 14, 1935 2,721,550 Banif Oct. 25, 1955 2,908,308 Dearholt Oct. 13, '1959 3,0(l5,545 Stanley Oct. 24, 1961 Stanley Mar. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 255,289 Great Britain July 22, V1926 

